Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 1

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Nick Diaz International Fighting Championship (2001, 2003); Ultimate Athlete (2002); Warriors Quest (2002); Shooto (2002); World Extreme Cagefighting (2003); Ultimate Fighting Championship (2003-06, 2006, 2011-Current); International Cage Fighting Organization (2006); Pride Fighting Championships (2007); EliteXC (2007, 2008); Dream (2008); Strikeforce (2009-11)
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CASE FOR: There is only one Nick Diaz. His exciting fighting style and outspoken personality have made him one of the sport’s most unique personalities. Whether standing or on the ground, he is always attacking and usually talking. Few fighters have just one bout as thrilling as Diaz’s confrontations with Karo Parisyan, Diego Sanchez, Takanori Gomi or Paul Daley. He also captured the Strikeforce welterweight title and battled Georges St. Pierre for Ultimate Fighting Championship gold in one of the most-watched pay-per-view events in recent years. CASE AGAINST: Although many of his setbacks came via debatable or outright dubious decisions, Diaz has plenty of losses against midlevel opposition. Many of his wins also came against overmatched opponents. Just looking at the results, they are not that impressive. You had to have followed the excitement and insanity as it ensued. VERDICT: Should he go in? Probably not, but I am receptive to the argument depending on what we see from Diaz in the next few years.

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